Sunshine

Days used to yearn for a reason to continue. 

going through the motions

Everything was  

Heavy.

and

grey. 

and  

so   

so       

exhausting. 

The house was tense 

It felt quiet and empty. 

Even though it was full. 

We were prepared to lose her

But that did not seem to make it easier 

When we lost her.

Mom had insisted:

“Not another”

But time had a way of changing your mind. 

The day of we drove up

Thirty-two minutes 

Felt more like thirty-two years 

We walked down the driveway 

Through the dewy air 

To the noisy shed filled with animals. 

A litter of Puppies- five months of age 

In a small play-pen

They YIP! and they BARK!

Trampling each other.

Some hide in the darker corners of the cage,

hiding

While others fight for a look

Hope to be chosen 

By us.

They all have curly matted hair 

Of many different colors 

Their eyes are barely visible

through the mat of their fur.

After meeting a few, one escapes the pen

She runs to greet us

Yipping and wiggling with excitement 

She starts with my mom 

Jumping up licking her face 

Wagging her tail so fast 

I think her spine might break 

Then to my dad 

They both smile so big 

As she jumps up on his knees 

to give him a kiss

Then she comes to me.

After my sister 

She jumps up on me 

Giving me kisses 

Then she goes to run with excitement

From my mom 

To my dad

My sister 

And me

Again 

and 

again

And

again.

And as of that day we were hers

After that day 

My days had reason to continue 

We laugh and we love as we come home

To a wagging tail and lots of love 

She is sunny 

The ray of sunshine 

That somehow manages to light up 

The dark corners of my mind

She’s the bright to my dark 

-J.C

.